Starching-machine.



O. MILLER.

STARGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.17, 191s.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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STARGHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.17, 191s.

Patented Feb. 3,1914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

0. WEINVENTOR ATTORN EY WITNESSES OLOF MILLER, 01? FARGO, NGRTH DAKOTA.

STARCHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters iatent.

Application filed April 17, 1913. Serial .No.'761,'826.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OLOF MiLLnR, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Fargo, in the county of Cass and State ofNorth Dakota, have invented a new and useful Starching-h/Iachine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improve- :ments in starching machines,and its object is to provide a machine by which articles such as collarsand the like may be readily starched in large numbers expeditiously andwhich machine requires the presence of but a single operator.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a starch tankin which is normally lodged a suitable roller with feeding cords orbelts in part encircling it and carried to a more distant idler roller,and in addition to the main bands there are like cords or belts inapproaching and receding relation to the first named bands, and all sodisposed that van operator standing at what may be termed the front ofthe machine may place the articles to be starched upon the in- :goingrun of the feeding belt and take them from the outgoing run thereof,which outgoing run leads toward the front'of the inachine within easyreach of the operator.

"The parts of the structure are so associ ated thatcleansing is veryreadily performed, and, moreover, the starch is conducted into closerelation to the articles to be starched and then surplus is removed sothat on passing the articles once or twice through the machine they arethoroughly starched ready for the subsequent operations.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with thefurther understanding that while the drawings show a practicalembodiment of the invention, the latter is .not confined to any strictconformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed andmodified so long as such changes and modifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the invention. Y

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a side eleration .ofthe machine. Fig. 2 isa plan view thereof. Fig. 3 .is a central longitudinal vertical sectionshowing in dottedlines the position assrm 'ed by the parts when itisdesired to cleanse the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan v ew partly insection of pressing rollers designed to force the article to be starchedfirmly into engagement with the carrying roller.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tank 1 which may be ofgenerally rectangular outline with one portion of the bottom slopingupwardly, as indicated at 2, until it reaches to or closely adjacent tothe top of the tank at a point which may be termed the front of thetank. This tank is supported upon a frame consisting of hori- Zontalmembers or beams 3 and 4c and legs 5,v

all of which may be made of metal or wood,

Patented Feb. 3, 1914:.

as desired, but as shown in the drawings are made of angle or structuralmetal. The tank 2 is provided with a false bottom 6 at a distance abovethe main flat bottom of the tank to provide a chamber 7 having an inlet.8 and outlet '9 for steam or other heating fluid, while traversing thechamber 7 and opening into the tank through the false bottom 6 is adrain pipe 10 for the tank 2, and this drain pipe may be normally closedby a plug 11 or in any other suitable manner, whereby starch may bereadily drained from the tank 1 when desired.

Connected to each side beam 3 of the frame near the rear end thereof bya pivot pin or bolt .12 is a bar '18, and secured to and rising from the,pivoted end of the arm is a post '14-, there being two such bar 13 andtwo. such posts, and the posts are connected together by a cross piece15. Each post rises to an appropriate height and is there formed with acrown curve 16 and a downwardly extending leg 17, the end of which ismade fast to the respective bar 13 at a distance forward of its pivotsupport,

the said bars '13 with the posts 14: constituting a pivoted frameextending lengthwise of the tank 1 when in operative position andcarrying certain mechanism to be described, the whole structure beingmovable about the pivot-s 12 until the bars 13 are upporting framecarries a journal bearing 18 for the 'corresponding end of a shaft 19carrying a drum 20 which may correspond in construction to drums asemployed in starching machines of the general character to which thepresent invention relates. The drum 2() has a surface covering 21 ofcloth, and in this respect may correspond to the practice in the art towhich this invention relates. The drum 20 is of such. length as to dipinto the tank 1 to an appropriate depth for a purpose which willpresently appear.

The depending web of each angle beam 13 is, when the parts are inoperative position. within the tank 1, and fast to this web are bars 22one near the rear end of the tank and the other near the junction of thefalse bottom 6 with. the sloping front 2 of the tank. and these bars 22at their lower ends carry rollers 23, 2%, respectively, in traversingrelation to and near the bottom of the tank 1 within the latter.

Each beam 3 near the front end carries a plate 25 with upturned ends 26in spaced relation one to the other, and on this plate 25 between theends 26 there is lodged a slidable journal block 27 having a pin 28 atone end traversing the respective upturned end 26 and another pin 29 atthe other end traversing the other upturned end 26, while between thelast named end 26 and the block 27 the pin 29 is surrounded by a spring30 tending to maintain the block against the upturned end remote fromthe spring 30, this being the upturned end 26 at the front of themachine, but the spring 30 will yield to a superior force allowing thejournal block 27 to slide along the plate 25 toward the rear of themachine. There are two blocks 27 one on each side of the machine, andthese journal blocks receive journal ends 31 of a straining or tensionroller 32 which roller is formed with a longitudinal series ofcircumferential grooves in comparatively close relation one to the otherand the spacing of the grooves may be equal throughout the series.

Between the crowns 16 of the posts 14. there extends a guide roller 34suit-ably journaled to turn readily, and this roller has a longitudinalseries of circumferential grooves 35 like the grooves 33 on the roller32.

Ofistanding from each leg 17 is an arm 36, this arm extending toward thefront of the machine in an upward direction, although this particulararrangement is not mandatory, and the length of the arm is such that thefront end thereof overhangs the tank 1 between the roller 21 and thestraining or tension roller 32. There are two such arms 36 one on eachside of the machine, and between these arms there extends a straining ortension roller 37 having journals 38 each mounted in a journal block 139 slidably carried on a plate 40 fast to the corresponding outer end ofthe respective arm 36. The block 39 has a pin a1 traversing an upturnedend. 42 of the plate 40 and on the opposite side of the block 39 thereis a pin or rod 43 traversing an upturned end 4 1: remote from theupturned end 42 and between the end 5H and the block 39 the rod 43surrounded by a spring 45 tending to hold the block 39 against theupturned end -12.

At an intermediate point of each arm 36 is a bracket 46 and between thetwo brackets l6 there is journaled a roller l7 located about midway ofthe length of the two arms 36.

Extending between the 17 is a wiping roller 47 smaller than the roller20 and larger than the rollers 3 1 and 37. This roller has terminaljournals 1-8 each mounted in a slidable journal block as carried by aplate 50 on the respective leg 17, and this plate has upturned ends 51through one of which a. pin 52 on the corresponding end of the block 49is passed, while a rod 53 projecting from the other side of the block 49extends through the corresponding upturned end 51 of the plate 50 and isthere threaded for the reception of nuts 53 55!, one of which, say thenut 54, may be a thumb nut. while between. the nut and the block 49 therod 52 is surrounded by a spring tending to hold the block away from thenut 53.

Extending about the cloth covering 21 of the drum 20 and also about theroller 37 is a series of cords or belts 56 each traveling in arespective groove 57 in the roller 37, the said roller 37 having alongitudinal series of circinnferential grooves 57 formed. therein likethe grooves 33 of the roller 32, and the grooves of the roller 34:. Thedrum 20 is also in part embraced by another series of cords or belts 58each of which endless and is carried about the roller 32 in a respectivegroove 33 and has one run extend ing beneath the roller 24- when theparts are in operative position, thence to the roller 23 and partiallybeneath and around the latter, thence carried upwardly to a groove ofthe roller 34-, thence about the roller 4-? and to and around the drum20 at the side thereof remote from the roller 32, the belt finallyreturning to the roller 32. The drum or roller 47 is provided with acloth covering 59 like the cloth covering 21 of the drum 20.

Those bars 22 which carry the roller 24 each carry an arm 60 at one end,by means of a pivot pin 61 and this arm is curved on an arc struck fromthe shaft 19. The other end of each arm 60 is connected to a rod 62extending through the flange portion of the crown 16 of the respectivepost lt and above it surrounded by a spring 63 controlled by a thumb nut63" at the upper end of the rod.

Extending between the arms 60 and journaled therein are rollers 64 eachhaving the surface corrugated and bearing against the correspondingportion of the drum 20 or the cloth covering on the drum within the tank1 near the bottom thereof.

The shaft 19 is continued beyond one of the journal bearings 18 andthere carries a worm gear wheel 65 which may in part run in a curvedguard 66 underriding the wheel and supported by brackets '67 made fastto the legs 5 on the corresponding side of the machine. The .guard 66 isformed with a casing 68 on its lower side carrying journal bearings 69for a worm 70 meshing with the worm gear 65 and mounted on a shaft 71having journal bearings 7 2 in the frame of the machine and providedwith tight and loose pulleys 73, Tl for the application of power to theshaft 71 by a belt, although this driving structure may be considered assimply typical of any driving means whether by belt or pulley ordirectly connected electric motor or otherwise.

Let it be assumed that there is a suitable supply of starch within thetank 1 and the fluidity ofthis starch is maintained at any suitabledegree by steam or other heating medium circulating in the compartment 7and let it further be assumed that power is being applied to the shaft71 in a direction to cause a rotation of the drum in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Figs. 1 and 3. If, now, collars or other likearticles be placed upou the cords or belts 58 they will be carriedthereby down into the starch, be-

ing gripped when reaching the roller 20 between the cords 58 and 56,these cords all I traveling in the same direction when coincident, beingimpelled by the rotative movement of the drum 20. The articles to bestarched are firmly held by the cords or belts 56 and 58 while'underriding the drum '20 and there immersed in the starch, and whenreaching the rollers 6% they are pressed with considerable force againstthe cloth surface 21 of the drum 20 and the starch is forced thoroughlyinto the material of the article. Ultimately these articles reach theroller 47* which is in the nature of apressure roller, being urgedtoward the roller 20 by the springs the runs of the cords or belts 56and 58 where traversing the cloth surfaces 21 and 59 sinking more orless thereinto. thus permitting the drums 20 and 47 to approachsufliciently close to press out from the articles being starched anysurplus starch which will fall down the steep rising side of the drum 20to ultimately reach the supply of starch within the tank 1. As therespective runs of the cords 56 and 58 leave the drum 20, the cords 56travel to the roller 37, while the cords 58 travel to the roller at? andtheir direction of travel is diverted by the roller zsl'yfrom whence thecords 58;travel .to the roller 34, and finally downwardly therefrom tothe roller "23, and from the latter about the roller 24 to the roller32, from whence they again pass to the roller 20.

An operator standing at the front of the machine may place the articlesto be starched upon the runs of the cords or belts 58 and may readilytake the starched articles from the runs of the cords or belts 56approaclr ing the roller 37, so that but one operator is needed toattend to the machine and cause the starching of many hundred smallarticles such as collars and cuffs per hour.

What is claimed is 1. In a starching machine, a tank for starch, a drummounted to dip into the tank below the starch level of the tank, tensionrollers mounted one above the other and both on the same side of thedrum, a wiping roller in operative relation to the drum at a high pointthereon and on the rising side of the drum in the direction of itsrotation, said drum being provided with means for imparting rotativemovement thereto, cords or belts extending around the drum and thehigher tension roller, other cords or belts extending around the lowertension roller and having one run partially embracing the main ClI'LLIHand extending between the wiping roller and the main drum, and guiderollers for the second named cords or belts.

2. In a starching machine, a tank for starch, a drum mounted to dip intothe tank below the starch level of the tank, tension rollers mounted oneabove the other and both onthe same side of the drum, a wiping roller inoperative relation to the drum at a high point thereon and on the risingside of the drum in the direction of its rotation, said drum beingprovided with means for imparting rotative movement thereto, cords orbelts extending around the drum and the higher tension roller, othercords or belts extending around the lower tension roller and having onerun partially embracing the main drum and eXtendinghet-ween the wipingroller and the main drum, and guide rollers for the second named cordsor belts, the main drum having pressure rollers in engagement therewithat a low point within the tank.

'3. In a starching machine, a tank for starch, a pivoted frame normallyoverriding the tank, a main drum carried by the frame in position to dipinto the tank, a tension roller mounted on the frame atthe end of thetank remote from the pivot of the frame, another tension roller on thesame side of the main drum as the first-named tension roller and at apoint above the main drum, a wiping roller above the main drum and onthe side thereof remote from the tension rollers, cords or beltsengaging the main drum and extending around the tension rollers, guiderollers for certain of the cords or belts, the tension rollers,- guiderollers and wiping roller all being mounted on the pivoted frame, andmeans for rotating the main drum.

4. In a starching machine, a tank for starch. a pivoted frame normallyoverriding the tank, a main drum carried by the frame in position to dipinto the tank, a tension roller mounted on the frame at the end of thetank remote from the pivot of the frame, another tension roller on thesame side of the main drum as the first-named tension roller and at apoint above the main drum, a wiping roller above the main drum and onthe side thereof remote from the tension rollers, cords or beltsengaging the main drum and extending around the tension rollers, ;;n:iderollers for certain of the cords or belts, the tension rollers, guiderollers and wiping roller all being mounted on the pivoted finale, andmeans for rotating the main drum, the pivoted frame also having pressurerollers mounted thereon in position to under-ride the main drum inengagement therewith, and elastic connections between the mounting forthe pressure rollers and the pivoted frame.

In a starching machine, a tank for starch, a frame of a size to enterthe tank at the top thereof and pivoted at one end to more into and outof the tank about the pivot,.said frame havin a post on each side with areturn leg and an outstanding arm extending toward the end of the tankremote from the pivot of the frame, a main drum mounted on the pivotedframe of a size to enter the tank below the starch level thereof, atension roller mounted on the frame at the end thereof remote from thepivot, another tension roller mounted on the outstanding arms fast tothe posts car ried by the frame, a wiping roller carried by the legsextending from the posts in position to bear against the main drum,guide rollers .ied by the frame below the drum and by me posts and armsabove the main drum, and series of cords or belts, one series of cordsextending around the firstnamed tension roller and the guide rollers andin part encircling the main drum, and another series of cords or beltsextending around the main drum and the uigher tension roller.

(3, In a starching machine, a tank for stareh, a frame of a size toenter the tank at the top thereof and pivoted at one end to move intoand out of the tank about the pivot, said frame having a post on eachside with a return leg and an outstanding arm extending toward the endof the tank remote from the pivot of the f mine, a main drum. mounted onthe pivoted frame and of a size to enter the tank below the starch levelthereof, a tension roller mounted on the frame at the end thereof remotefrom the pivot, another tension rollermounted on the outstanding armsfast to the posts carried by the frame, a wiping roller carried by thelegs extending from the posts in position to bear against the main drum,guide rollers carried by the frame below the drum and by the posts andarms above the main drum, and series of cords or belts, one series ofcords extending around the first-named tension roller and the guiderollers and 111 part encircling the main drum, and another series ofcords or belts extending around the main drum and the higher tensionroller, said frame carrying pressure rollers in underriding relation tothe main drum when in the starch tank and provided with an elasticconnection to the posts rising from the pivoted frame.

,r starching machine comprising a main frame, a starch tank mountedthereon, a pivoted frame having angle side members each with one webshaped to enter the tank and the other web to then rest on the mainframe, a main drum journaled on the pivoted frame in position to enterthe tank and having a driving gear exterior to the tank, driving meansfor the driving gear carried by the main frame and into and out ofengagement with which driving means the gear of the main drum is movablewith the pivoted frame, a tension roller mounted on the pivoted frame atthe end thereof re more from the pivot of the said frame, posts risingfrom the pivoted frame. adjacent the pivoted end, arms extending fromthe posts in overriding relation to the main drum to points adjacent thetension roller, another tension roller carried by the free ends of thearms, an elastically mounted wiping roller carried by the posts inposition to engage the main drum at a high point thereof and on therising side thereof when in operation, guide rollers carried by thepivoted frame both above and below the main drum, and cords or beltsextending about the tension rollers about the guide rollers and alsoengaged by the wiping rollen 8. A starching machine comprising a mainframe, a starch tank mounted thereon, a pivoted frame having angle sidemembers each with one web shaped to enter the tank and the other web tothen rest on the main frame. a main drum jourualed on the pivoted framein position to enter the tank and having a driving gear exteritu' to thetank, driving means for the driving gear carried by the main frame andinto and out of engagement with which driving means the gear of the maindrum is movable with the pivoted frame, a tension roller mounted on thepivoted frame at the end thereof remote from the pivot of the saidframe, posts rising from the pivoted frameadjacent the pivoted end, armsextending from the posts in overri relation to the main drum to pointsadjacent to the tension roller, another straining roller carried by thefree ends of the arms, an elastically mounted wiping roller carried bythe posts in position to engage the main drum at a high point thereofand on the main drum being provided with depending supports, pivotedarms carried by the supports of one of the last-named guide rollers,pressure rollers carried by the pivoted arms in engagement with the maindrum in under-riding relation thereto, and elastic tension meansconnected to the pivoted arms and to the pivoted frame to hold thepressure rollers in engagement with the main drum.

9. In a starching machine, a starching drum and two series of cords orbelts in partial encircling relation to the drum, both cords or beltshaving coacting runs extending to the same side of the drum, those runsapproaching the drum converging and first meeting at the drum and thoseruns moving away from the drum diverging.

10. In a starching machine, a starching drum and two series of cords orbelts in partial encircling relation to the drum, bot-h cords or beltshaving coacting runs extending to the same side of the drum, those runsapproaching'the drum converging and first meeting at thedrum and thoseruns moving away from the drum diverging, and a wiping roller engagingthe drum and the cords or belts embracing it at a high point on saiddrum on the side thereof remote from the converging and diverging runsof the cords or belts.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

OLOF MILLER.

Witnesses:

ARCHIE J earns CRAIG, J11, S. SIMoNsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

